25 Films For 25 Years! EPFC’s Online Anniversary Celebration!

Film 18: Desi Holiday (2014), selected by Shar Starks

“Since day 1, almost 20 years ago (WOW!) & practically 9 months pregnant with my 4th son, EPFC has been a community that’s welcomed me with huge open arms. There’s so many incredible memories - from marathon screenings in the mighty micro cinema, DIY screenings on street corners & projecting on walls and bold accessible Filmmobile filmmaking workshop facilitations such as The Universal Truth Collective & Mary Magadalene.

EPFC was hugely influential in providing the inspiration, access to resources and rich community that enabled me to continue to create my own films.

Desi Holiday is layered with meaning for me. Creatively I felt like I discovered my cinematic voice, I was surrounded by a talented community of artists and personally looking back it was therapeutic. There was a sweet small toy camera, I believe called a Gizmo??? That I borrowed from The Film Center to capture parts of Desi’s imaginary world. They always had the coolest finds in retro equipment!

I’m forever grateful to EPFC and so proud of their consistent integrity, humility, insane level of creativity and true desire to do good in the world. Congratulations to Paolo & Lisa for the vision 25 years ago that’s stood the test of time and has blossomed in such a beautiful way. Much love to you both and to our entire EPFC family ❤️ “